Unionization could help home health care workers with wages, experts say

To prevent burnout and increase employee retention, Ascension Hospitals offers its employees resources like online and in-person therapy, crisis hotlines, incentive pay for holidays and extra hours, mental health check-ins and even tuition reimbursement. These measures help employees feel appreciated and when employees feel taken care of they’re less likely to quit their jobs or leave the caregiving profession altogether.

The Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan makes healthcare for union workers more affordable and accessible, providing workers with a much-needed safety net. The RFK plan covers about 3,000 members of the United Farm Workers — which consists of about 7,500 people, including spouses and children.

Digital communication is allowing American employees to unionize at large corporations. In conjunction with face-to-face organizing, and more positive perceptions of unions from the public, digital communication such as social media and text messaging has led to an increasing number of unions. The current pro-worker political climate and the transparency of poor working conditions through social media have also contributed to the rise in unionization.

The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging hires state-tested nursing assistants (STNA) to act as community care specialists and provide in-home care to seniors. This care provides respite for unpaid family caregivers and allows seniors to continue living independently in their homes. In 2023 alone, the program served 130 residents, providing 2,371 hours of in-home care.

In what is being called the most historic tentative agreement for workers in the company’s history, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters came to an agreement with UPS over contract negotiations. This agreement is serving as evidence of the efficacy of unions and how they can work to achieve better working conditions, benefits and increased wages.

The Advanced Illness Care Program was founded within local Black churches and offers free, individualized support for people with advanced illnesses and their caregivers, helping them navigate various life and health issues and plan for end-of-life care. Since starting in 2015, the AICP has helped more than 1,600 patients, the majority of which are Black, and 55% of them have gone on to complete advance directives for end-of-life care.

Our Lady’s Health Center — which is managed by Sisters of the Holy Cross — works to address the stigma and provide care to those with HIV/AIDS, specifically antiretroviral therapy services. The Center has established three community posts within local markets where those in need of care can easily access it in a discreet way.

Several groups in the Appalachian region are turning toward harm-reduction strategies to help those struggling with drug abuse. Research shows that those who participate in syringe exchange programs are five times more likely to enter treatment than those who didn’t participate. Groups like Holler Harm Reduction and Choice Health Network host scheduled drop-ins where they deliver supplies, provide naloxone training and education, and administer disease testing wound care to those in need.

As a continuance of the Fight for $15 and a Union southern chapter Raise Up, the Union of Southern Service Workers is a first-of-its-kind, cross-sector union that offers membership to fast food, retail, warehouse, care, and other service industry workers across southern states. With Black women emerging as leaders, these organizations have built a multigenerational, multiracial labor movement that sheds light on the realities low-wage service workers have faced for decades.

In a complex effort to increase morale among bus drivers and address worker shortages, the Kansas City Area Transit Authority has negotiated a new union contract with drivers and maintenance crews to increase their hourly wage. Through the new contract and intensified recruitment efforts, the KCATA has hired an additional 55 drivers, exceeding its goal of 45 more drivers by the end of this year.